Fighting Saints Win Black Friday Showdown
Published on November 26, 2021 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Dubuque Fighting Saints News Release
DES MOINES - A game reminiscent of the playoffs took dramatic turns and ended in victory. The Dubuque Fighting Saints killed off an overtime penalty, Paxton Geisel slammed the door shut in the shootout, and Ryan Beck and Kenny Connors scored to lift the Saints to a 2-1 win over the Des Moines Buccaneers on Friday night.
Beck slipped a shot five hole on Lucas Szyszka, and Connors converted on a shot to the top shelf to give the Saints the advantage in the shootout. Geisel denied Paul Davey in the first round, and forced Killian Kiecker-Olson with a poke check desperation save to deny both Bucs opportunities in the skills competition. The win was the Saints' second in the shootout this season.
A messy line change set up a crucial moment in the game. A too-many-men-on-the-ice call forced the Fighting Saints into a 4-on-3 penalty kill with just over two minutes to go in overtime. Geisel and the penalty killing unit teamed up to take away the opportunity. Stephen Halliday took a stick up high with just nine seconds to go in overtime, which forced a power play, but the Fighting Saints could not convert.
Dubuque opened the scoring in the first period. A broken play turned garbage into gold. Ryan Beck corralled a bouncing puck high in the zone and twisted a pinpoint pass to Connor Kurth who danced down the left wing and zinged a shot short side on Szyzska to give Kurth his eleventh goal of the season at the 13:49 mark of the first period.
Killian Kiecker-Olson tied the game for Des Moines in the closing stages of the second period. A failed clear by Dubuque went back to the blue line, and Chase Ramsay fired a shot that deflected down in front, and Kiecker-Olson converted on the rebound with just eight seconds remaining in the frame.
That was the only blemish on an otherwise strong performance by Geisel, who allowed a career-low one goal against in the game in a 23-save effort. It punctuated his personal second, and the team's second, consecutive win. Szyszka made 20 saves in the shootout loss.
Neither team could convert on their special teams opportunities.
The back half of the home-and-home heads to Dubuque, as the two teams will face off at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, November 27. Tickets are available at DubuqueFightingSaints.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from November 26, 2021
- Fighting Saints Win Black Friday Showdown - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Stampede Shoot Down Stars in a Shootout - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Gamblers Take First Game in Weekend Series with Team USA - Green Bay Gamblers
- Caps Jump on Lumberjacks Early and Dominate in Series Opener - Madison Capitols
- Capitols Snap Four-Game Winning Streak, Jacks Drop 7-3 Decision to Madison - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Steel Offense Pours It on with 8-4 Win over Youngstown - Chicago Steel
- Force Comeback in Sioux City Falls Just Short - Fargo Force
- Storm Set for Road Series against Force - Tri-City Storm
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